I鈥檓 a first-year doctoral researcher in Professor Markus Linder鈥檚 research group, where we study how the structure and properties of natural materials 鈥 such as spider silk or substances produced by marine organisms 鈥 can be mimicked to develop new biomaterials. Our group is part of the LIBER Centre of Excellence.
In my own research, I鈥檓 developing a protein-based adhesive derived from the DNA of barnacles and mussels. Our goal is to create a sustainable material that works as well as the adhesives produced by nature, if not better. Our adhesive is unique because it works in both dry and wet conditions and even underwater.
Most traditional adhesives require dry conditions to work, but marine organisms are different. Mussels and barnacles can produce protein-based adhesives underwater and attach very tightly to rocks and ship hulls. That sparked the idea of developing a similar, environmentally friendly adhesive. I鈥檝e been developing this material together with my colleague Jianhui Feng. I started researching this topic for my Master鈥檚 thesis, which Jianhui supervised.
It鈥檚 very difficult to collect enough adhesive directly from nature. For example, you鈥檇 get only about one gram from 10,000 mussels. That鈥檚 why we produce these adhesives using E. coli bacteria. We transfer modified DNA into the bacteria, which then guides the production of the desired protein. Bacteria grow quickly and are cost-effective, and the production process is environmentally friendly. Producing the adhesives in bacteria also allows us to tailor the proteins for different applications.
The adhesive we鈥檝e developed can be widely used 鈥 for example, in composite materials. Thanks to its water resistance and biocompatibility, it could be used as a medical adhesive or for repairing coral reefs. In the future, we hope protein-based adhesives could even help repair major tissue damage and potentially save lives.
Right now, I鈥檓 particularly focused on studying how the material would work as a medical adhesive. Adhesives are typically used on skin, where there鈥檚 little moisture, but we want to explore whether ours could be used inside the human body. Next, we want to determine which applications the adhesive would be best suited for. Our long-term goal is to move into product development and eventually commercialise the material.
Helena Aspelin鈥檚 research is featured in the exhibition The Future of Adhesives 鈥 Inspired by Mussels and Barnacles. The team includes doctoral researcher Jianhui Feng and Professors Markus Linder and Barbara Pollini. The exhibition is part of Designs for a Cooler Planet from 5 September to 28 October at Marsio, on Aalto University鈥檚 campus (Otakaari 2).
This article has been published in the (issuu.com), September 2025.
LIBER aims to create dynamic and soft hybrid materials with a capability to learn, adapt or response to the environment. LIBER combines eight research groups with expertise on molecular self-assembly, soft robotics, surfaces and interfaces, genetic engineering of proteins, biotechnological production of engineered biomolecules, and computational modelling.
Aalto University鈥檚 biggest annual exhibition presents visionary cross-disciplinary work. Come explore prototypes, experiments and solutions.
